Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows provided from (used by) operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (196)	$ 133	$ 115
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,320	1,139	1,170
Losses on early extinguishment of debt			160
Pension settlement costs			44
Pension/OPEB costs	10	(18)	37
Stock based compensation expense	27	23	17
Gains on sale of assets		(37)	(15)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	191	10	12
Other non-cash adjustments		22	(1)
Deferred income taxes	(167)	(78)	(7)
Change in accounts receivable	62	(61)	50
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities	102	90	(6)
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes and other current assets	(48)	47	(80)
Net cash provided from operating activities	1,301	1,270	1,496
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures - Business operations	(710)	(572)	(635)
Capital expenditures - Integration activities	(153)	(116)
Network expansion funded by Connect America Fund - Phase I	(22)	(56)	(33)
Grant funds received for network expansion from Connect America Fund - Phase I		4	64
Proceeds on sale of assets	22	39	18
Cash transferred (to)/from escrow	(8,444)	11	31
Cash paid for an acquisition, net of cash acquired	(17)	(2,018)
Other	2	32	12
Net cash used by investing activities	(9,322)	(2,676)	(543)
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings	6,603	1,911	750
Financing costs paid	(119)	(40)	(19)
Long-term debt payments	(298)	(260)	(1,563)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	799
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net	1,866
Premium paid to retire debt			(159)
Dividends paid on common stock	(456)	(401)	(400)
Dividends paid on preferred stock	(120)
Other		(2)	(9)
Net cash provided from (used by) financing activities	8,275	1,208	(1,400)
Increase/(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	254	(198)	(447)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,	682	880	1,327
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31,	936	682	880
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	728	656	668
Income taxes, net	28	70	94
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Financing obligation for contribution of real property to pension plan			23
Reduction of pension obligation			(23)
Increase in capital expenditures due to change in accounts payable	$ (56)	$ (15)	$ 40